All of the Above
Hip Hop Academy
Monthly Newsletter: May 2023
Cyphers all around!
Are you familiar with the cypher? This tradition and practice in hip hop can look different in each element but the goal is the same - circle up and share your voice.
Breaking does this after each class and this quarter Youth B.A.R.S joined the tradition. At the start of every class, students freestyle around the room starting with the phrase "shabooya roll-call" in a call-and-response fashion answering with who they are and an aspect about themselves all while being affirmed by the cypher/group.
The kids are becoming more confident with their voices through this and it has been a beautiful blooming experience to see.
Wait!
Before we go on to our latest news and updates, we prompt you...shabooya roll-call! Can you think of an aspect about yourself that rhymes with your name or goes along with a beat?
It's pretty inspiring to put ourselves in these kids' shoes for a moment and realize how brave they are for sharing about themselves in this cypher tradition.
Okay, now onward to the news...
Community Engagement
Stoop Fest & AYO Griots
Lansing anticipates Stoopfest for its diverse musical genre lineups and the symbol that spring is here and warmth is on its way.
We're still waiting on that warmth but the event lived up to the hype yet again!
AOTA was part of the 2023 Friday lineup as the AYO Griots performed early in the evening and AYO Instructor, Jahshua Smith, and BARS Coordinator, James Gardin took the stage with friends that night.
Watch a recap of the Griot's performance here!
Lansing School District + Lansing Promise + AOTA = The Cook Up
"...Intentional mentorship that comes from the community to see young people thrive - from the Community to the classroom, from the stage and beyond - you're supporting our youth in all of the above!" - Ozay Moore
The NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) and MACC (Michigan Arts and Culture Council) has awarded AOTA a $14,000 community partners grant to support our work in The Lansing School District.
By expanding the scope of our B.A.R.S program (which traditionally focused on lyrical composition and music production) this after-school program, led by student leaders and AOTA instructors is designed to create a healthy space for students to explore various expressions in hip-hop culture including Breaking and DJing, as well.
The rebranded program will be known as a club called The Cook Up.
The Cook Up will be facilitated by youth mentors from our AYO program and supported by AOTA staff.
The Club's primary partnership is with The Lansing Promise but will also collaborate with other community partners such as Gear-Up, Michigan State University (MSU), Lansing School District (LSD), and Lansing Community College (LCC.) These collaborations will support awareness and access to career opportunities in the arts and beyond through vocational training, higher education, and other preparatory supports.
Ample thanks to the NEA and MACC for choosing us for this grant! We're excited to launch this pilot for the remainder of this school year and start the Fall of 2023 strong!
YAC (National Youth Advisory Council) Grant
Based on AOTA's alignment with the Teen Needs Assessment Survey, the youth at YAC (National Youth Advisory Council,) selected us for a grant through the Community Foundation for $5,000.
The focus area? Teen mental wellness (depression, anxiety, academic stress.)
Not surprisingly, hip-hop music and culture are embraced in mental health treatment for underrepresented youth across and beyond the United States. This plays out in building confidence, trying new things, and positive reinforcement while engaging in various art forms.
This grant will serve not only to keep our programs barrier-free supporting high-quality art instruction, but it will also help us continue to provide a creative space through hip-hop culture to support young people socially and emotionally, reflecting and fostering a healthy community.
Thank you to the youth at YAC and the Community Foundation! We are so grateful to partner with you in a way that is fundamentally impactful.
MSU & AOTA
James Madison College
"We’ve been in the community for over a decade...there is a multicultural connection in hip-hop history - local and regional historians...Communities developing a mechanism where people can engage in that way..."
- Ozay Moore
Executive Director, Ozay Moore, joined a panel moderated by JMC DEI specialist, and AYO Instructor, Jahshua Smith. In a conversation at James Madison College they highlighted 50 Years of HIP-HOP as a Musical genre, its Roots in social activism, links to public policy, and the history of AOTA.
College of Social Science
We are happy to celebrate another semester of collaboration with the College of Social Science 399 Experiential Learning Class with Professor Cristian Lambaren Sanchez!
In one of his largest classes yet, these students learned about Hip Hop's impact on a local community. They collaborated together on projects based on the four elements of hip-hop: Emceeing, DJing, Breaking, Graffiti, and Knowledge. One group created a system for internships and another for grant proposals, among other projects.
We've enjoyed getting to know each class through the past few semesters and aim to continue this partnership for years to come.
CIS (Communities in Schools) & AOTA
We are thrilled to announce our RAP Program will be again partnering with CIS at Lansing Charter School.
This will include a new group of B.A.R.S students and we can't wait to hear all of the stories that come from this continued collaboration.
Volunteer Highlight
JD Diaz
JD has been instrumental in helping AOTA accomplish event layout plans! He has created multiple wood pieces including tables in our AOTA space. We've been so honored and grateful to build with him and his wife Angie over the years and look forward to future events.
If you know JD, you know his joy and love for community run deep and to call him a friend is a gift.
Thank you for the hours you've put into volunteering with AOTA, JD. Your impact continues to be felt every class as students write, collaborate, and dream over the pieces you've created.
#Build517
Three ways to support AOTA Hip Hop Academy:
1. Make a one-time donation.
2. Volunteer
3. Join the Monthly Donor Club and receive small tokens of appreciation.
Thank you so much to our supporters, sponsors, and community partners!
It will never get old to say THANK YOU for your support as we continue to #build517 together!
Old school appreciation, new school application.
#EachOneTeachOne
#Build517
